Siddikur Rahman (Bangladesh) shot a brilliant first round of 65 in The DGC Open at Delhi Golf Club on the Asian Tour boasting a $750,000 prize fund.
Rahman, birdied all four par fives as well as having two birdie twos on the back nine for a front side of 34 and a back nine of 34, with just 24 putts and two ‘no putt’ holes.
He has made his three cuts in his events played so far this year on the Asian Tour, in Saudi, Oman and Thailand, his best finish last week with a tied 27th that could have been so much better but for a poor last round - with rounds of 70 67 64 74.
Rahman, 38 years-old, has two Asian Tour wins on his CV, he was the first Bangladeshi to win on the Asian Tour in 2010, and in 2016 was the first countryman to qualify for the Olympics in golf.
In tied second two shots back are the threesome of Justin Quiban (Phi), Nitithorn Thippong (Thai) and Rashid Khan (Ind). Thippong is the defending champion this week, having won the 2022 edition of the tournament over the same course and the $90,000 first prize with rounds of 68, 70, 70 and 73. He also went onto to win his biggest cheque of his career, $270,000, when he won the International Series – Singapore in August.
Dubai’s Shiv Kapur (Ind) shot a three over par 75 hitting eight of 14 fairways and 10 greens in regulation. He said after his round, ‘It was not the start I was looking for – I just didn’t make enough birdies today. I really need to tidy things up and shoot a low one tomorrow morning.’
40 players in the field broke par in round one.
Round One Leaders (6,935 Yards, Par 72)
1 - S. Rahman (Bang) 65 (-7)
2 - J. Quiban (Phi) 67 (-5)
- N. Thippong (Thai) 67 (-5)
- R. Khan (Ind) 67 (-5)
